No, Seriously...

Final Round: Gear for a Pro, Yo.

2011-08-01T21:37:00.006-05:00

I made the last purchases for Tri gear this past week. I can't believe how much I've invested in this whole 'triathlete' phase of my life. Beyond time, I've invested a money in what I hope will be something I continue for years to come. It definitely wouldn't be worth it for a one time deal :)

During the last few weeks, I've been attending a few courses on how to prepare for the Tri. These are classes intended for first timers who want to know the in's and out's of Tri racing. My first purchase was elastic shoe laces. They were super cheap ($5 on Amazon) I did a "mini-tri" this weekend (200 meter swim/3 mile bike/1 mile run) and I have to say, having the no-tie laces was fantastic. Your hands definitely don't work after you've been swimming and biking!

The other big investments I made were in my bike accessories. First, I purchased a bike bag to store my spare tube and tools.

I also purchased a multi-tool in case of any mishaps on the road-hopefully I don't have to use it, but it is the perfect size for the Tri!

Finally for my bike, I purchased a new helmet. I was borrowing my hubby's helmet, and it was getting to be a hassle constantly changing the size when I wanted to ride. I invested the $15 for a spiffy new one that matches my Schwinnie!

Other items purchased included a variety of gel packs to try as I prepare for race day nutrition and a race belt to put my race number on (so I don't ruin my Tri suit!) I'll definitely keep you updated on how they taste as I try them. Everyone says they taste awful, but they really help sustain energy through all three sports...woo!

Bis Morgen,
Des

Too big to handle

2011-07-31T17:22:00.002-05:00

Our tomato plant has gotten so big that we had to tie the cage to the stairwell to make sure it didn't tip over on itself-especially with the severe weather we've had lately. It blows my mind how such a tiny little plant + some TLC can = such a magnificent plant! I can't wait to taste these tomatoes...

Bis Morgen,
Des

It caught me by surprise...

2011-07-29T17:15:00.000-05:00

I was out watering my patio garden this week, and I was completely blown away when I noticed that I actually had tomatoes and peppers growing! My basil plant has been growing steadily this summer, and we have been harvesting fresh basil each week. I've been watering our pepper and tomato plants almost every day, but I never noticed actual veggies growing until now!

I'm hopeful that we will be eating patio fresh veggies in the next few weeks :)

500 yards and Loving It

2011-07-26T22:16:00.002-05:00

When I first starting training for the triathlon, I thought that swimming 500 yards was insane. When I would go to the gym, I was amazed at the ease of the lap swimmers who could swim continuously for 30 minutes. I would be out of breath at the end of one lap, unable to see the end of my workout.

For the last six weeks, I've been taking a swim conditioning class at the YWCA. I decided that drowning wasn't an option, and admitted that swimming was my "third" sport. Dave (www.distancedave.com) has been working with four of us in the class to improve our form, stroke and the mental aspect of our approach to swimming. This has also involved being filmed in the water, and let me tell you-NO ONE looks good underwater, especially in a swim suit. And, especially if you are swimming behind a graceful seven foot amazon.

I have to admit, I panicked during the first week. Why was he trying to teach us something completely new? I just wanted to survive so I could bike! Slowly, though, during the last six weeks, I must have picked up something. Tonight, during the class and filming, he never mentioned me once. I thought, "crap, he's going to take me aside and tell me to wear a life jacket". I was wrong. He set me aside, but only to let me know I was doing well and to focus on a faster cadence while the other three were given focal points to continue to improve on. Dude. I was blown away.

Not only did I swim 500 yards tonight for the first time-I swam 500 yards TWICE. He wanted us to get over the mental anxiety of what "500 yards" was and "how long should it take". I was imagining 30 minutes. It only took 11. I know I'll be in a lake and swimming with 70 other women-but at least it won't be 30 minutes :)

Definitely feeling like I can do this. Also, I think running just moved into my "third sport" bracket...

Bis Morgen,
Des

New Tri Gear!

2011-07-16T19:04:00.003-05:00

I finally took the time to purchase some much needed triathlon gear. I've been researching what items are more important than others-since everything seems to cost more than I wanted to spend. At the end of the day, though, there are some pieces of equipment that should make my race day easier to manage. So what did I buy?

Shoes! My original plan was to get a biking shoe that was cheap, but would clip in to a pedal and help shift the work of my muscles so that I was still good to go for running after biking. I ended up going with a higher end tri-shoe since they will last me beyond this season. I went with Speedplay X/5 pedals for easy on and off during the race!

Bike Accessories! Besides the new shoes and pedals, I finally invested in a screwless bottle cage for my bike. I will most likely sell Schwinnie at some point, so I didn't want a cage that would damage the frame. Along with a new bottle cage, I invested in some bike gloves for extra support during long rides.

Tri Suit! Last but not least, my final purchase of the day was a tri suit. I was originally planning to swim in a suit and then throw clothes on over it-but I have quickly realized that having one suit for the whole race will eliminate any anxiety during my transitions. GO TEAM!

I start my tri skills workshops tomorrow through the YWCA-I'm excited to start learning more about the nitty gritty details of a triathlon. Mostly, I'm excited to get a chance to swim, bike and run the course!

Bis Morgen,
Des

Garden Fresh Herbs

2011-06-21T19:56:00.002-05:00

Since starting our patio garden, which is thriving, I've had to learn a bit about harvesting herbs from our plants to ensure they remain healthy, but we reap the rewards of our hard work! I thought I would share the tricks I use to harvest while maintaining a healthy plant.

Basil (Austin Powers, anyone?)
One of the most important steps in growing a healthy Basil plant is actually harvesting it! By continuing to harvest leaves throughout the summer, your plant will continue to produce leaves for you. The best time to harvest is in the morning. Also, harvesting before your plant flowers is the way to go. To keep your plant continuing to produce tasty basil, cut any flower buds off so they don't bloom. I use a kitchen shear, but you can use your fingers to remove leaves or stems.

The best to actually remove leaves/stems is to locate a junction between stem and two leaves on both sides. Pinch or cut above the two leaves on the stem. Those will now be the next round of basil to harvest (the "leader"). I tend to remove from both the top and sides of the plant so it keeps a uniform shape. If you want a taller plant, take from the sides. If you want a short, bushy plant-take from the top! Above all else, I recommend checking for large leaves when watering and harvesting those-along with those that are showing signs of yellowing. You don't want leaves to gray or have black splotches!

Cilantro
Cilantro is probably the easiest herb to grow and to harvest. I recommend taking garden shears (my faves) and cutting 1/3 of the way down the stem. the bottom 2/3 of the plant will continue to grow new, tasty leaves. It's recommended to harvest weekly if your plant is established, and more than weekly if it can handle it. Our plant is just reaching a point of needing to be harvested weekly. If you don't use that much cilantro now, you can always store it in the refrigerator (even wrap the ends in a wet paper towel if you want).

Rosemary
Another easy herb to manage. When you want to harvest some fresh rosemary, just snip off the tips of branches. Those branch tops will become the new rosemary in the future. These plants can get quite huge if left unattended, so learning to dry this herb is a must!

Bis Morgen,
Des

Dessert? No problem!

2011-06-20T18:13:00.003-05:00

Since trying to limit the sugar intake in my life, I've found being in charge of bringing a dessert to a gathering can be rather challenging. My solution? Fruit, of course! I've been trying to stay on top of which fruits are in season, so I am not only spending fewer dollars, but also getting the sweetest and ripest options available.

For today, I chose sweet cherries as my contribution. Bite sized and easy to eat on the run while socializing :) The best part is that I KNOW there will be something for me to snack on that won't tempt me into a sugar induced coma.

Bis Morgen,
Des

Patio Garden

2011-06-19T18:05:00.000-05:00

Since moving into my new apartment, I've been dying to start my own garden. Unfortunately, we aren't too sure about staying another year at our location. On the plus side, we have a great sunny three season porch and flight of stairs that doubles for our trial patio garden!

We have two tomato plants, gifted to us by my mom. She is in love with the Amish, and these plants were grown in an Amish greenhouse (special, right?). After bringing the two tomato plants back from Wisconsin, we decided to go all out and try our hand at a few others. We purchased a jalapeno pepper plant, sweet basil, rosemary and cilantro. So far, we haven't killed anything off AND we've actually cooked with the basil and the rosemary. Go Team :)

I'm a little bummed we didn't do a CSA this year-but hopefully this will suffice!

Bis Morgen,
Des

Schwinnie!

2011-06-12T15:54:00.003-05:00

Meet Schwinnie! My new road bike!!

I've been dreading the day. Buying a road bike. The thought of investing hundreds of dollars, especially on my volunteer-based stipend income, was daunting. I spent the day shopping at tons of local metro bike shops that sold re-used bikes. When I met Schwinnie, my heart melted. Not only was she a 47cm frame like I needed so I could bike comfortably, but she was GREEN! Ok, mostly gun metal gray, but with the lime green accents and my purchase of lime green tape for my handle bars, how could I say no?

I am continuing to learn about bikes, but I've discovered that Scwhinnie is a 1983 12-speed Traveler. She has a little superficial body damage, but nothing that will keep her down. I ended up making my purchase at Re-Cycle in Minneapolis.

I'll be starting my volunteer maintenance time at the Sibley Bike Depot June 18th. I am beyond excited to learn how to do proper maintenance on my bike. After the 18th, I'll be able to start volunteering in the shop and learn to fix adult and youth bikes. Not only will I get to learn everything I need to know about bike maintenance, I'll also get a free bike when I complete 20 hours and fix two bikes! Go Team. What will I do with two bikes?! Maybe two triathlons? Ha....

Bis Morgen,
Des

Books for Great Recipes

2011-06-11T15:06:00.000-05:00

In order to have no excuses when it came to "What should we make this week?", Lee and I invested in four new cookbooks.

1. The Rodale Whole Foods Cookbook. This book is fantastic for those of us who need help figuring out "food". Inside you will find not only great recipes, but guides on kitchen equipment, vegetables, cooking grains, choosing and storing fresh fruit, and much more!

2. Real Fast Food. This book is great if you want to cook based off a certain item. Not my favorite way to organize a cook book, but it still has interesting and tasty recipes.

3. Clean Start: Inspiring You to Eat Clean and Live Well. I LOVE this book. Terry Walters does a fantastic job explaining why it is so important to eat locally, eat fresh and be considerate of what you put in your body as it relates to the world around you. I haven't given up meat...yet.

4. Cooking Light: Fresh Food Superfast: Ok. So for those of us who suggestions on a good side to make with a recipe, this book is amazing. Out of all the books we purchased, this one does require a little fudging of ingredients to lower sugar, but overall the recipes are delightfully easy and always tasty. Each main dish on a page has a picture and a suggested side dish with recipe.

I am beyond excited to continue through these books this year and update you all on our healthy meals!

Bis Morgen,
Des

Healthy Eating for a Healthy Body

2011-06-10T14:11:00.000-05:00

As I start getting into what I would call "hard core" tri training, I've been working to find recipes that will not only be good for me, but good for training. We are still working to minimize sugar and caffeine, but I still tend to grab a cup o'joe or rarely a diet coke every so often when black tea isn't enough :P

One of my favorite recipes I've discovered in the last few weeks has been "Smoky Black Bean & Cheddar Burritos with Spinach". It's a vegetarian dish with plenty of protein and flavor!

With summer upon us, I've also taken to eating as many fresh berries as possible. With the large absence of processed sugar in my life, berries are a remarkable sweet treat! Besides putting fresh raspberries on my salad with bleu cheese, I found myself pigging out on bowls of fresh strawberries, raspberries and blackberries for most of my meals.

Bis Morgen,
Des

Running and Swimming and Biking, OH MY!

2011-05-17T19:47:00.003-05:00

I have officially made it through week one of my Tri training. I am supposed to do six days a week, but I only made it through four last week. I was gearing up for a major event at work, so my stress levels were high and my sleep levels were super low. I'm definitely on track to make my six days this week, though! Monday is my rest day, so today was day 1 for the week.

Today I switched up my swim day for a running day. I was gardening all day for various organizations yesterday, and my legs were super stiff-so, what better way to get them warmed up and stretched out than running! I did 5 minute intervals for a half hour, with two minute breaks between each set. Since this week and the next week are still "warm up/get in the habit of working out six days a week", the days are super light. I am definitely not complaining.

As for the caffeine, sugar and wholesome eating trial, I'm still phasing things out. As I mentioned earlier, last week was pretty rough, so my sugar intake wasn't as minimal as I had hoped :) I've definitely cut down on caffeine, and I'm hoping after this week I'm at minimalist levels all around. I love fresh fruits and veggies, but I am so quick to reach for a processed carb!! Just need to gain back some self control, yo.

My goal for this week is to further investigate Sibley Bike Depot. Apparently they have a volunteer program where you learn to fix bikes, and then you work to fix two bikes for them and work another 20 hours in their shop-and you can get a free bike!! Since I am in need of a road bike and short on cash, I thought I would try it out. And, I am going to need to learn to fix my bike in case of any mid-race issues that may arise.

Bis Morgen,
Des

20x25: Slow Crawl of Death

2011-05-09T07:18:00.002-05:00

Happy Monday everyone!

I found myself finally jumping into the pool this morning. I've been dreading it-not because I don't like to swim, but because I hate putting on a swim suit. Luckily, I was the only person in the pool for a good portion of my swim :)

This mornings workout was killer. I was swam 20-25 yard laps. I took as much time in between each one as I needed, but my arms are already killing me! I am excited to build swimming into my workout-I'm pretty sure my whole body needs it.

As far as the no sugar and the no caffeine goes, I'm doing ok. I've been finishing up the last of the diet cherry coke in the house, and I am happy to say it is officially gone. Now for the real cutting of sugar and caffeine. Also, I found myself buying ice cream this past week...I think it was my mind freaking out with the whole "cutting" something out of my life...slowly but surely! It's hard to identify all the sugar you naturally consume in a day. One day at a time, I guess! More fruit, less processed junk!

Bis Morgen,
Des

I Tri!

2011-05-03T22:02:00.003-05:00

It's definitely been a while since I've posted to my beloved blog, but I am hoping to recommit. Starting tomorrow, I will be training for my first ever TRIATHLON! It's a "sprint" tri, which means I am swimming 500yrds, biking 15.5 miles, and then running 3.2 miles. I'm really stoked for it, and I think I am going to blog about my experience so I have a written record of my attempt to get motivated.

If this sounds boring, get out while the getting is good. This girl is about to rock her own world with a big physical challenge!

The first big changes that I'll be making are not only to my workout routine (6 days a week=2 swim, 2 bike, 2 run), but I am cutting out caffeine and working to minimize sugar in my diet! CRAY CRAY, I know. I've cut out caffeine before, but sugar is a brand new level of dedication.

I won't be cutting them drastically, but I will phase them out over time. The big reason I am cutting sugar isn't so much the Triathlon training, but because my husband is concerned about sugar and its affect on the body when consumed in mass quantity (a.k.a, my daily ritual of hot tamales, chocolates and a latte to start the day.) His main argument (and what got him to seriously consider changing his diet) was this article from the NY Times. I can't say I don't agree-I know the times in my life that I have managed to go without caffeine and sugar where definitely filled with clarity and energy. If you think it's a little nuts, check out this girls year without sugar here.

We'll see. The next 103 days are going to be life changing! Stay tuned...

Bis Morgen,
Des

Local Coffee Shops

2010-10-29T12:19:00.001-05:00

I love local coffee shops, but I am especially loving Jerabeks New Bohemian coffee shop because it freezes coffee for ice cubes IN their iced coffees. Genius.

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Cupcake saves the day!

2010-10-21T15:39:00.001-05:00

I love a coffee shop named Cupcake. Whats great is that they actually make cupcake-tons of them! I decided to get the "salted nut roll" this time

Cupcakes make the world go round...and make me feel positive :)

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ETSY finally arrives!

2010-10-18T20:24:00.001-05:00

I'm so excited my necklaces :) I ordered them two weeks ago. I also got two sets of magnets. Woot!

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Knitting up a storm...

2010-01-21T20:47:00.005-06:00

This week has flown by, but thankfully I've completed something :) After learning the cable stitch, it was so easy to quickly finish my coffee cup cozy. I'm closer to finishing one mitten, but it will still probably take a few weeks. After I complete one set of mittens, I'm going to start another pair for Lee. They aren't as pretty a color, but I don't think he wants anything too flashy...

I'm starting another coffee cozy with my spare yarn since they are so easy. I'm also going to start a new hat with some cute yarn I picked up at Depth of Field yarn.

Otherwise, nothing too interesting this week. Lee and I are still trying to figure out what we are doing on Saturday since we have nothing planned (which is nice!), but I'm excited for Sunday game night with the peeps and watching the Vikings v. Saints game. Hopefully it's action packed! We're even trying a new restaurant called Homi, which is a new Mexican restaurant in St. Paul. Action packed weekend!

Addicted to Sewing

2010-01-17T18:09:00.007-06:00

I'm not sure what has gotten into me, but I really love doing it myself lately! (No pun intended!) I just finished my first sewing project EVER! The class at Crafty Planet started a little later than planned, but we were still done by 2:30 instead of 3:30. The pattern is super simple and I can't wait to get my own machine!

After the class, I went over to Joanns in Roseville since it is relocating, and scored a great craft box. I also started adding to my sewing supplies, which inclues a fabric scissors, a rotary cutter, and fancy schmancy pins to put in my new craft box!

Tomorrow is MLK day, and I'll be heading out to St. Paul for a MLK day rally in the morning, and knitting all afternoon with a splash of resume touching up!

Cheers,
des

Knitting Classes, Sewing Classes, and Stich and Bitch OH MY!

2010-01-08T12:07:00.004-06:00

I have had a great start to January :)

Other than working out this week and feeling more awake now that I have stopped relying on caffeine, I have registered for a few crafty classes. I'm starting my knitting class at Depth of Field in Cedar-Riverside again on Wednesdays, so I will hopefully have a pair of cute flap mittens in a few weeks. I am also attending the Sunday knitting clinics at Depth of Field from 1pm-4pm (which are free) so I can work on my coffee cup cozies and get help if needed.
I also ventured farther into NE Minneapolis to Crafty Planet (www.craftyplanet.com). It's a super cute craft store with the best patterns, fabrics, and store employees around. I registered for a one time sewing class for beginners. It's four hours long, but I'll be making a reusable tote for shopping :) They also have a Tuesday stitch and bitch for free, so my friend Ruth and I will be becoming regulars!

Today, after spending the morning working on an MLK day exit survey, I am working on cleaning my apartment for KT and her husband! My great friend from elementary school is coming to see me from Montana. The road is terrible, so she won't be coming until late this evening, but I'm still excited!! We are roasting a chicken with vegetables for dinner and heading to Eau Claire on Saturday to visit with Jessi. There may be some sledding and/or roller skating involved :) I'll definitely take photos!

Bis Morgen,
des

** PS: MLK Day 2009 (January 18th) is a day on, not a day off!! I hope you get out and volunteer in your community!! Give back!! Log on to www.mlkday.gov to find opportunities to volunteer near you!**

Happy New Year!!

2010-01-03T13:30:00.002-06:00

Happy New Year, everyone!

My NYE weekend has been filled with lots of activity! I welcomed 2010 with good friends at Gasthof's in NE Minneapolis. We then headed back to our apartment and played board games. Friday was a day well spent, as Lee and I laid on the couch and watched multiple movies on Netflix. We only got up to make dinner. It was perfect :) Saturday was filled with more couch and movie time, partnered with Minnesota RollerGirls at the Roy Wilkins with Jess :)

In the spirit of a new year, I thought I would share my New Year Resolutions:

Couch to 5K. Yep, that's right! I've never ran a mile in my life, but I am going to run a 5K this year! I've found a pretty good running program online (http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml). Although it is too cold to start training now, I am planning to start in March. I will also be registering for a race in the Twin Cities to give myself a deadline!
No More Soda! I've tried in the past to achieve this resolution, but I usually fall short. This year I will try again. Although I had a diet coke on Saturday that I shared with Lee, that was the last hurrah! If you happen to be out with me, remind me of my goal!
Reconnect. 2009 was filled with success and friends! There are so many of my good friends who have been absent from my day to day life. I hope to reconnect with everyone over the year and stay dedicated to keeping those connections!
Be Creative. I know how to crochet, and I know how to knit. Now, I just need to do more of both! For Christmas next year, I definitely want to give the gift of home made, so I need to start now!
Blog More. Yes, I know....this one will be the hardest :) My goal will be once a week, so hopefully that isn't too hard!

Cheers everyone! I hope 2010 is even better for you than 2009!

Bis morgen,
des

Childhood Moments

2008-11-15T23:37:00.013-06:00

I loved my tractor. My dad wasn't ready for a girl...

Run everyone! It's a giant scary red-headed chubby baby!!

Here I am in my awesome cowboy boots! Yipee!

I always loved cats! They loved me back :)

YAY OBAMA YES WE CAN!

2008-11-05T08:31:00.005-06:00

What an amazing day and even better night! I was up at 5:45 am so I could prepare myself yesterday morning. The polls opened at 7 am, so I was in line at 6:45am. It was so fun! A woman in line with me had her 5 year old daughter and 6m daughter with her, so I was playing with her kids while I waited the hour to vote. My precinct usually has a high turnout, so the line was consistent throughout the day.

After voting and getting my "I voted" sticker, I headed to campus for a group meeting. It was very surreal to leave the polls and go back to life. The vibe at the polls was so amazing!

At the humphrey, PASA parnterned up with the Institute to provide "I Voted" cookies to everyone walking through. We also were handing out hot apple cider...but it wasn't as cool as the cookie! (I might have had two....)

After class, Lee and I headed over to a friends house for a small election night party. We only stayed until 10pm, so it wasn't all that exciting (except for seeing friends!)

When John McCain finally admitted defeat....it was a beautiful day. I was going to go to bed, but I had to stay up. I had to hear Obama "take it to the people".

I had the best night, ever.

Here is to the next four years, folks! CHEERS!

Begining of School

2008-08-26T15:40:00.007-05:00

So I got a hair cut a week ago :) I'm pretty happy with it. I haven't had bangs in a really long time, so hopefully I don't get sick of them too quickly. I definitely needed one before the school year started. My hair was so overly dyed and stressed it was not funny!

As the summer comes to an end, I find myself highly stressed. I don't have a job and I am unsure of what I want to do with my life. This past week, I learned that a high school friend, Miranda, chose to end her life. Miranda and her family have been in my life since elementary school and I stayed close with Miranda when I moved up to Minneapolis as she was living in St. Paul. Although she had always had a history of mental health issues, she had never come close to killing herself. The article is here if anyone is interested. I called her mom on Sunday to talk with her about what had happened and how I could help. Our senior class is organizing a donation to the Humane Society, as Miranda loved animals and was going to school to be a vet tech.

This weekend I was in Milwaukee for a friends wedding. Lori and Randy are also from Wisconsin and are a couple that Lee and I hang out with regularly. They were gorgeous on their wedding day! The drive down was miserable, as I hate sitting still for 5 hours straight. But, we had good company as Mittra and Ben, another couple, rode down with us and shared costs to make the trip more affordable. I accidentally booked the room for the wrong day, so I had to beg and plead to get a room without having to pay again. (I may have been a bit rude, as Jessica has so kindly pointed out...)Yesterday was Humphrey orientation for incoming students. I spent the day helping new students out and running around trying to make things run smoothly. I feel it could have been organized a bit better, but all in all it was a good day! We ended at the Nomad for 2 for 1's all night and bocce ball. I definitely had a good night!

Well, I'm off to the Brian Coyle for a mural workshop. Should be fun. I'm slightly happy that with the start of the school year, I am going to be limited in how often I can help out in the neighborhood. I've been feeling slightly abused the last few weeks.....

bis morgen,
des

May 31st, 2008

2008-06-05T19:33:00.007-05:00

Lee and I successfully survived our wedding weekend! The weather was beautiful and the ceremony was short and sweet. The cupcakes arrived on time, the flowers were more beautiful than we could have imagined, and more friends and family showed their support than we had imagined.

We haven't received our professional photos, but many have been posted on Facebook by our friends. I will try to upload what I can to Flickr, but my professional ones will not be put online out of respect for the photographer.

Friday, May 30th, the boys went to Famous Daves while the girls when to Rudy's drive-in and then to the Metropolitan Spa for a manicure and pedicure. Afterwards, a rehearsal dinner was held at Lee's parents house in Sparta. Jan prepared lemon drop martini's and blackberry martini's to go with the colors of the wedding. We also were treated to grilled chicken, potatoes and an ice cream sunday bar. That night, when everything was said and done, I headed to the Radisson hotel with my maid of honor (Jessi) and my good friend Katie.

Saturday morning, myself and the girls headed to Salon Di Amici for our hair and then had breakfast at a cute little bistro called Sunday's. I had Lucky Charms :) We then spent the morning shopping downtown La Crosse. There are a few new stores since I moved.

The wedding began at 4:30. The rest of the evening was a blur :) But I must thank everyone who attended and made it super fantastic. A special thanks to: Heidi, Diana, Jessi, Paco, Kirk, Cory, Sonnet and Amanda. You guys rock.

Weekend Adventures

2008-04-20T23:07:00.005-05:00

So after my stressful day Friday, I twisted Lee's arm to take me to Dairy Queen. I had a Tin Roof Sunday blizzard, he had a cookie dough blizzard and it ROCKED. This weekend was a blur, but I'll try to recap via picture.

Saturday morning, a few of us met at the Law School and headed to Lake Maria to pull Buckthorn. It's an evasive species from Europe. If anyone went to Sparta High, we pulled its cousin, the awesome Glossy Buckthorn. It was pretty sweet. The weather was cooler and the sky was cloudy, so you could work hard and not feel disgusting at the end of the day.

Abby was kind enough to drive and bring her dog, Puck, along for entertainment. It is one of the best trained labs I've ever had the pleasure of riding for an hour with. He was so cute, he was pulling Buckthorn out along with us. He also stole both of my gloves and buried them somewhere in the park. I didn't really need them back anyways :)

After pulling Buckthorn, I headed over to Mittra's and Ben's with Lee. We ended up playing Mario Party on the game cube until 2 in the morning. I felt like I was a freshman in college again. It was pretty sweet, although Mittra and I lost. I'm pretty sure Ben was cheating....

It was so awesome out today. I opened all the windows and cleaned the apartment. I had a study session at 4pm with a few people from class. Kate is actually still here at 11pm. We aren't working on the same stuff as at 4pm, but we both have a ton to do, none the less.

I think it is officially flip flop season.

Cheers,
des

Stressed

2008-04-18T08:33:00.002-05:00

Im a little stressed this morning. I was up until 1 last night working on my internship grant proposal and my demography paper. I was able to finish the internship proposal, but my demography paper is far from complete-and it is due today at 4pm. Besides those both being due today, I also have a CHANCE meeting, the PASA Connect 2 Community event, a PASA meeting, writing thank-yous for staff appreciation day and a Brian Coyle Event. I was also invited out for a birthday party this evening, but I don't know if I will survive the day with enough energy to make it out.

Kirk is coming up at some point this weekend to visit. He recently decided to stay at UW-L to pursue his master's, which is awesome. Mittra is having a "girls night" Saturday night, but the boys are invited as well. I'm hoping Lee will be up to making bruchetta, because it tastes so yummy! If not, I can do it. It's not too terribly hard, but he is such a good cook! Sunday I have a study session planned at my place around 4pm for a few people. We have a quiz in demographics,but I don't know if I even know anything about it. Perhaps that is why I am having such a hard time writing this paper?? I already have the data done, but understanding what the data is is the hard part!

Cheers,
des

Aspartame: No more diet sodas.

2008-04-15T09:29:00.004-05:00

So typically silly forwarded emails don't bother me, but for some reason the one my mom sent me today did. It was an email warning of the evils behind Aspartame and the various side effects that can occur from ingesting it over long periods of time. I know you have all heard at one point that diet soda is bad and that it causes cancer. (No? Ok, well I have) So I decided to look up a few websites so that we could all educate ourselves on the risks/benefits of Aspartame.

Douglass Reports
Wikipedia Article
Toxicity Info Center
Dorway to Discovery
Aspartame.org

My overall verdict: I think I'm done with soda for good. Starting today, I hope to avoid aspartame. Goodbye low fat, hello healthy.

bis morgan,
des

Happy 26th Birthday, Des!

2008-02-18T22:21:00.002-06:00

Happy Birthday to me! Yep, I turned 26 today. I am an OLD lady. At least I'm not 30, right?

Today was actually quite hectic, as I had to work in the morning and then be at school for back to back meetings. My printer decided to run out of ink AND break, so I had to frantically try to bring it back long enough to finish printing a few articles for school. I ended up having to call Canon and have them walk me through unplugging it a few times...hehe...

I saw Nina at the bus stop down town which was awesome as always. Jess brought me a box of 48 REAL fruit leathers and a super cute pink card wrapped, of course, with a pink bow. ( She also reminded me that I have a limited amount of time before I have to have my invitations for the wedding assembled...opps...) Lee picked me up from school, even though he was still feeling a bit ill, which was a great birthday present all in itself.

I had many a birthday wish today, so to those that remembered, THANK YOU :) *SMOOCH* The best present of all was having my BFF call and leave me a singing birthday message :) Although, the conversation with Kate about our butts and who had more junk in their trunk was a mischievous deviation away from the reality of homework. (Yes, Kate had more junk. But it was well-shaped junk!)

Off to bed. This old lady needs her beauty sleep :)

Cheers,
des

The Week Before Finals SUCKS....

2007-12-04T15:07:00.000-06:00

I sure do love the Humphrey. SO much, in fact, that I've spent almost the entire last two days here at my little cubicle in Room 40. I'm so glad I invested in a laptop while I was Iowa. Now if I could only afford SPSS....

Yesterday, I had a presentation on a group paper which consisted of 15% of our whole groups grade. I did ok, but I really feel we could have clarified a few items for the class, since the presentation was on medical residency. There are just a few key terms that most people need to learn before understanding the subject. In my Community Economic Development course, we finally got our mid-term papers back. I have been freaking out about this paper because I wrote it in a day and my other papers weren't that fantastic. But, I magically pulled out a 97%, so go team! Now I just have to get ready for my oxford style debate on Monday. I have to debate an alternative to Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Super FUN!

Today, I've been at school since about 7:45 a.m. working on my exercise 8 for stats. Its an SPSS nightmare. I actually don't think the actual SPSS regressions are difficult to do, but it's the overall interpretation of the data that we find. I've been working on correcting my last assignment so the language is better. Hopefully I have better luck with this one! I should be ok, though. I have all of tonight to keep working on it and most of tomorrow night. My fail safe is to do my finishing touches on Thursday morning before class.

I'm also taking a lot of hours off of work this week to get things finished. This week and next are going to suck, but I can make it!! I need to go christmas shopping soon! I haven't even made a list of who I need to get something for! How sad is that? I have all the supplies to make homemade chocolates and truffles. I'll have to post a few pics of my finished baskets.

off to SPSS land....
des

Snow in the City

2007-12-01T11:57:00.002-06:00

It's snowing and I love it! What a beautiful day! It was supposed to start snowing over night, but it waited until about 9 this morning. Last night, after Lee and I went grocery shopping, I stayed up and finally sewed the button on my $15 coat that Jess picked up from Salvation Army for me. It was a steal! I was surprised by my handiness, since I have never attempted button replacement before!

This morning I woke up around 7 a.m. to get ready for the craft show. The No Coast Craft show was at the Midtown Exchange and it was amazing! There were so many things I wanted to buy, but since they are all hand made, they were a little expensive for my low budget adventures. I did manage to pick up 3 super cool bottle top magnets. The pic is a little fuzzy, but the top one is chicks, the bottom left is a chipmunk, and the bottom right is orange blossoms. It's a great way to recycle! The best part of the craft show was all the recycled items. A lot of the vendors made crafts from various items, such as recycled clothing.

I might possibly go buy a new camera today, since mine sucks balls. But it depends on the weather. So far, there hasn't been a snow emergency declared. I know I can handle driving in it, but I fear other drivers!

I'll keep you posted on my adventures in homework today!

Cheers,
des

Mass transit on a cold day

2007-11-28T20:08:00.000-06:00

So this afternoon I had a meeting with the TA for my stats class. I took my normal bus down to the Nicollet mall station and caught the number 16 bus towards school. As we were approaching the intersection before the Metrodome, I could see people on the streets freaking out. Before I even had time to wonder why they were freaking out, someone hit us. A woman in a Land Rover decided she wasn't going to stop for a red light. She hit right at the back bus doors. I was sitting across from the door, but I wasn't injured. Fragments of her headlight were inside the bus after the impact. I didn't even see it coming, so I wasn't sure what had really happened until I got off the bus.

Surprisingly, the bus driver let us off right away and called for another bus. I thought we may have to wait around to talk with the police, but oh well. I was in a hurry to get to school and no one was killed :) The woman who was driving looked upset, but a police officer with an undercover vehicle arrived almost instantly to make sure she was o.k. and everyone was safe. Her vehicle was definitely mangled. I will say, if she had been driving a smaller car, like my Saturn, it may have been a different story. Her windshield was shattered and the whole front end of the vehicle was obliterated. I'm just glad no one was injured. But yes, I was the tacky witness who snapped photos! I couldn't resist. It was my own personal protest to the accident.

Other than the 'drama' of the accident, today was pretty normal. I'm a little nervous for the quiz in Stats tomorrow, but that's no different than any other week. Although, after studying with Jess tonight, I think I'm o.k. Just need to focus! I do have to work on my presentation with Julie for Monday and also my few pages I need to finish for the paper in Leadership and Management, but I should be able to get that done.

Now I'm off to watch Mythbusters....
des